Musical Team

The musical team consists of:

• Musical Director: Jan Hutchings
• Choir Accompanist: Alison Dale
• Committee members

Musical Director: Jan Hutchings

Jan is an experienced contralto soloist having performed with various orchestras around Manchester and Cheshire, notably the ‘Gorton Philharmonic’ and ‘Manchester Opera Orchestra’. She was a principal performer with ‘Warrington Light Opera’ for several years.

Jan has also been a member of many choirs and vocal ensembles, most notably with the Cheshire choir, ‘Opus XI’ lead by Roger Wilkes (Clare College, Cambridge) and Manchester’s ‘Alteri Chamber Choir’ directed by Dr. David Jones (RNCM and Halle Choir) and she has recently become a member of the ‘St Cecilia’s Singers’ in Chester.

In 2010 Jan formed the Lymm based mixed voice vocal ensemble, ‘Stepping Out’ accompanied by their own small band. The group became very successful, singing a huge repertoire of songs including Big Band Era favourites, songs from Musical Theatre, popular songs and traditional and modern Christmas carols and festive songs.

In 2012, Jan became principal Musical Director for ‘Chester Operatic Society’ where she organises and conducts several concerts and workshops each year. The repertoire is extremely varied and is enjoyed by members and audiences alike.

Jan is very much looking forward to working with ‘Chester Ladies’ Choir’ and is hoping to bring some new and exciting ideas and experiences to the group.

Choir Accompanist: Alison Dale

Alison is a pianist, teacher and examiner from Warrington. After studying music at Bangor and Manchester Universities, she began her teaching career at Lymm High School and later became Head of Music at Padgate High School and The Heath School, Runcorn. She now runs a successful music education business, teaching music to pupils from 4 to 19 in a variety of schools and colleges across the North West. Alison is a SLE (Specialist Leader in Education) and is also a team leader in Music for the examination board Edexcel.

Alison has a variety of experience ranging from accompanist with the Cheshire-based vocal group Stepping Out, rehearsal pianist and pit musician with LIPA 4:19 and pianist for Accent Music Hub’s performances at The Children of Halton Sing. She has an eclectic musical taste including baroque recorder music, jazz, minimalism and everything in between. She plays the great bass in the Manchester Recorder Orchestra and sings alto in the All Woman Choir.